Wasim Akram marries Australian girlfriend

This handout photograph provided courtesy of Wasim Akram shows former Pakistani cricket captain Wasim Akram posing with his Australian bride Shaniera Thompson during their wedding ceremony in Lahore on August 12, 2013. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: Famed Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram on Wednesday announced that he had married his Australian girlfriend, Shaniera Thompson, saying he has started a new life on a happy note.

“I married Shaniera in Lahore last week in a simple ceremony and this is the start of a new life for me, my wife and for my kids,” Wasim told AFP.

The 47-year-old’s first wife Huma died in 2009 after multiple organ failure.

Wasim proposed to 30-year-old Thompson, a former public relations consultant, on bended knee last month.

Thompson came to Karachi earlier this month before going to Lahore to see Wasim’s ailing father, where the marriage was solemnised.

Wasim said Thompson had converted to Islam and is learning Urdu.

“She has embraced Islam and is learning our language. She has been close to my sons and they form a very good bond,” said Wasim of his two sons from his first marriage.

Wasim played 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals for Pakistan in a career lasting from 1984 to 2003.

He was regarded as one of the best left-arm fast bowlers to have played the game and remains a major celebrity in Pakistan.

Wasim was player of the tournament in the country’s only triumph in the World Cup, in Australia in 1992. He captained Pakistan to a runners-up finish in the 1999 World Cup in England.

Congratulations to Wasim and good wishes for future.. Who I am to object but I must say that our celebrities, politicians, mullahs, generals and everyone else at top want best for themselves and their families but propose Talibani Nizaam for common people.

“Wasim said Thompson had converted to Islam and is learning Urdu” No matter how you try to represent her, Mullahs of Pakistan will never accept “, she has REALLY converted.
We have Imran a JEW AGENT- according to Fazal,- Now its your turn man. You start teaching her ARABI for good and bad. Congratulation and happy hereafter

I think Wasim has done great injustice to his sons by marrying twice. Now all his attention would be diverted to this Australian-money & glamor oriented- women, instead of his sons.Sad day for all children of the world

I think Wasim has done great injustice to his sons by marrying twice. Now all his attention would be diverted to this Australian-money & glamor oriented- women, instead of his sons.Sad day for all children of the world.

This women must be sincere muslim not like a bee which flies from flower to flower where the nectar is. Wasim no more publicity games for the newspapers be a true muslim when away from the cameras. By the way muslims do not propose no bended knee this is English culture. Walk like a muslim; eat like a muslim and act like a muslim.

In our society when would we allow our women to marry foreigners? We claim to be fair and equal rights for all but our men marry white girls and we all back them up and are proud of them. Who is going to marry our sisters and daughters if most of the top Pakistanis marry outside Pakistan? What is wrong with our Pakistani women and where are equal rights?

As far as I know there is legally no restriction in a Muslim marrying a non-Muslim. Even in Islam a Muslim Man or Woman can marry a non-Muslim woman or Man (respectively) though it is always preferred that both parties are Muslim or the man is Muslim as the children follow father’s religion and pass it on to next generations.

tis not a good business, bcz there are many serious doubts regarding the death of wasim first wife and matter about death had been subjudiced in Lahore highcourt for a long time, but remain undecided for unknown reasons… that is the duty of media to uncover the facts of this whole episode.Recommend

@John B: Nearly all but not all. Hinduism has no such requirement. OF course the spouse may choose to convert but at least with 2 of my male cousins – one of whom who has married a Christian woman and another a Muslim woman – both ladies continue with their own religion.

I do not believe Buddhism has such a requirement either. Must be something to do with Abrahamic religions.Recommend

@SHAGY: “As far as I know there is legally no restriction in a Muslim marrying a non-Muslim. Even in Islam a Muslim Man or Woman can marry a non-Muslim woman or Man (respectively) though it is always preferred that both parties are Muslim or the man is Muslim as the children follow father’s religion and pass it on to next generations.”

Islam forbids a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man. If he wants to marry her, he must first convert to Islam. Islam permits Muslim men from marrying non-Muslim women as long as they were people of the book i.e. she was Christian or Jew as long as she is willing to convert subsequent to marriage.

@Sameera Castaneda: You could also have lived in India where there are plenty of Muslims but due to India’s constitution, Muslim clergy dare not butt in to people’s personal decisions. . Many Muslim women married Hindu men and each kept their religion. SOme current examples – Slman Khan’s sister Alvira Khan married to Atul Agnihotri a Hindu, Farah Khan the director, actor and choreographer also has a Hindu husband, Sanjay Khan’s daughter Suzanne is married to Hrithik Roshan – a Hindu. OF course the reverse examples are also true e.g. Shah Rukh, Amir, Saif have Hindu wives who have remained Hindu.

Congrats to both of u! I have a very dear guy in Peshawar whom I have known very well now for 2 years now. Would have loved to visit him now in Pakistan as I haven’t seen him since last year October, there we met the last time in Dubai. Never been to Pakistan but it must be a wonderful country with amazing landscapes despite the negative things that are often written about Pakistan. Keep up ur wonderful marriage !!!